Doherty and Murphy to the fore as Clare show class against spirited Wexford

Banner finish with a flourish to pull away and into last four of All-Ireland minor hurling championship 

LAST LINE OF DEFENCE: Wexford keeper Paddy Quigley maves a save from Liam Murphy for Clare. Pic: Kieran Ryan-Benson

All-Ireland MHC QF: Clare 2-16 Wexford 0-13 

The Clare minor hurlers finished strongly to break away from a spirited Wexford outfit in their All-Ireland quarter final on Monday afternoon.

Paul Rodgers’ goal had put them three up after 26 minutes but Wexford just wouldn’t go away and the game was finely balanced after 41 minutes when a Sean O’Brien free reduced the gap to one.

But inspired by the brilliant Harry Doherty - an All-Ireland winner last year - Clare finished with a flourish to reach the last four of the competition once again.

Clare reeled off the first four points of the game through Harry Doherty (two), Matt Corbett and Dara Kennedy. Kennedy’s was the pick of the bunch with the wing back raiding forward before striking from distance.

Wexford looked nervy in the opening stages, fumbling possession and striking a number of wides. Sean O’Brien finally got them off the mark with a free in the tenth minute after Darren Rossiter was fouled. Rossiter was Wexford’s main outlet in the early stages with the lively corner forward setting up Colin Carley for their first and only score from play in the first half, after nineteen minutes.

Conor Ralph worked hard, and shipped a belt to win a free that Corbett would score three minuter later to end a mini drought for Clare.

The imposing Carley kept Wexford in the game winning three frees down the other end with the metronomic Darren Rossiter taking each opportunity. Clare struck back with a goal that was created by Doherty and Tadhg Lohan, and finished clinically by Paul Rodgers.

O’Brien scored another free just before half-time to leave three between the teams.

Doherty scored a free to open Clare’s account in the second half but Wexford grew into the game, with defenders Eoin Hughes and Ben Harpur beginning to impress. Wing back Dara Kennedy got forward for another for Clare before Rossiter set up O’Brien for his first from play for Wexford. He followed this up with three frees in a row to leave just one between the teams.

But Sean McNamara drove Clare forward from defence and when the questions were asked, they had all the answers.

Graham Ball and Dohetty scored tidy points for them before sub Ryan Hayes made an instant impact with a point from under the stands.

O’Brien finally missed a free for Wexford, hitting the post, and it was Clare from then on in, with Brian O’Connell’s side showing their class. Sub Jerry O’Connor slotted a few frees and then Doherty scored from play before the lightning Liam Murphy put the icing on the cake with a brilliant late goal.

Scorers for Clare: H Doherty (0-7, 4 frees), L Murphy (1-1), P Rodgers (1-0), M Corbett (0-2, 2 frees), D Kennedy (0-2), J O’Connor (0-2, 2 frees) G Ball (0-1), R Hayes (0-1) 

Scorers for Wexford: S O’Brien (0-11, 10 frees), C Carley (0-2) 

Clare: M Crotty; D Moroney, S McNamara, S Óg Kilkenny; D Kennedy, J Cullinan, R Muclahy; G Ball, M Corbett; C Ralph, P Finneran, H Doherty; T Lohan, P Rodgers, L Murphy.

Subs: D McNamara for T Lohan (38) J O’Connor for C Ralph (45) R Hayes for Corbett (45), D Ball for Ball (49), E Collins for McNamaa (58), E Crimmins for Kilkenny (60) 

Wexford: P Quigley; I Reilly, E Hughes, B Harpur, O Moore, R Donohoe, C Sinnott; J Nolan, K O’Mahony; C Fanning, J Dunne, A O’Connell Byrne; C Carley, S O’Brien, D Rossiter.

Subs: J Kennedy for A O’Connell Byrne (37), R Wickham for C Fanning (40), S Hyland for O’Mahony (47) P Keavey for Moore (55) Referee: Conor Daly (Kildare)